Aid climbing gear you need in addition to your free rack would be aiders (ettries), daisies, the 3 BD hooks (or equivalent) and about 20 to 30 free biners. This is enough to get you started and practicing.

Changing this into real mulipitch climbing adds a lot to the expense account. Add small cams, and micro nuts to the rack as well as a double free rack (hopefully your partner has some gear), Jugs (Jumars), fifi hooks (if you prefer them), a good pair of gloves, Double gear sling, COMFORTABLE HARNESS (or atleast belay a belay seat), kneepads, and a large selection of tie offs and add 15 more biners.

Bringing full on wall climbing into this, involves a hauling device, a couple of pulleys, haulbags, all the typical overnight sleeping gear, possibly a portaledge, awesome storm gear, wall shoes, haul ropes, lower out lines, and a very understanding spouse.

If new routes, or hard aid are what you have in mind, the specialty gear is endless; pitons, peckers, screamers, rurps, beaks, sliding nuts, offset cams, offset nuts, bolt kit, hammer, and on and on and on.

Far cheaper just to buy a ticket to northern Africa and suffer in that manner, rather than learn to aid climb. Wall climbing is something that very few enjoy to do, it is something to enjoy to have done.

Far cheaper just to buy a ticket to northern Africa and suffer in that manner, rather than learn to aid climb. Wall climbing is something that very few enjoy to do, it is something to enjoy to have done.

also well put. However, I still look forward to my next one. Just ain't gonna be soon.

Aid climbing can be a lot of fun, and very rewarding. So go ahead and give it a try . you might surprise your self and have a blast . But dont get caught up in all the hype about needing tons of gear . Just tie your self a couple Aiders and go to to nearest cliff and get started with the gear you have . If you do get good at it ? you will find your self getting invited along on climbs with others that cant handle aid climbing .

Start by reading some of Piton peets Aid climbing posts on this web site and above all have fun and use your imagination to create possibiltes where non exist now . and maybe you will find your self making a few first accents in the future .

I've heard this alot, but I've always wondered why ovals are preffered for aid? Is it just because of all the different stuff that will be getting clipped into them or something?

D's tend to shift under a load resulting in the climber dropping a load.

And BD Ovalwires are hands down the best oval out there. Lighter, thinner, larger, easier to clip, stronger (than BD ovals) and better gate clearance. Pass the Pitons Pete is now on www.mountainproject.com and has lots of good advice!

I only have ovals (screws) on each end of my daisy/aider combo. I like the ovals there. I use lockers so I don't need an extra biner for jumaring. But I don't see a reason for ovals on my placements. There is no biner shift at all, because there is only one biner in that placement, the one of my aider.